“Second life” (not the trademark) as a term seems to have been circulating for a long time. Ever since the advent of Second Life itself, however, the term has been increasingly prevalent in all the senses that it was used before it was used to refer to Second Life.

We talk about the “second life” of the economy (or of the global economic crisis).

People are now increasingly said to have a “second life” where they used to say “double life” instead.

Christians have been using the term “second life” for a long time to refer to all manner of reformation.

And these days, just about everyone who talks to a television reporter or journalist about their near-fatal accident, recovery from a debilitating disease, recovery from severe injury, abrupt exoneration for some crime, or any other sort of sudden, life-changing event or positive change in fortunes is thankful for what they call their “second life.”

No doubt spurred by the frequent mention of the virtual environment of the same name, “second life” is everywhere in the media these days (though you see more of it in sports, and religion, it is true). Sometimes it even refers to Second Life.